The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-19
FED ON DYNAMITE,
A Georgian Kept Alive by the Absorption
of Nitro-Glycerjne.

A Georgian Kept Alive by the Absorption
of Nitro-Glycerine.
Atlanta Special to Louisville Courier-JournaI.
man in Atlanta has been literally fed on
dynamite, and has been kept alive with the
dreadful explosive. A living skeleton has been
the inmate of the Benevolent Home for several
days past, and ths man of skin and bone, with
not particle of flesh on his shriveled and at
tenuated form, has been slowly starving to death
the Pickering fame kept feebly burning by the
absorption of nitro Rlycerine. This morning re-
porter called at the Benevolent Home, in Waiver
ly place, with DR.. Van Goidtsuoven and was
ushered into a small room containing q single
bedstead in one corner. Upon the cot lay James
Terrell, who has been starving to death for sew
eral months. The man was a living skeleton.
What there was left of him was bones covered
by a shriveled and parched skln He could not
move and spoke with difficulty. but apparently
heard all that was said by those around him.
His eyes were deep set in their sockets, his ears
were like wax and his teeth could be and
counted through the skin closely drawn over his
emaciated face He was young man not more
than thirty years OF age, and he was quite tall,
probably six feet high. He looked as if he
might have once been a well-m man, but now
he would not weigh more than thirty pounds.
1.-THE poor fellow" said DIR. Won Goidtsnoven
to the reporter lis afflicted with q cancer of the
stomach. and the dreadful disease has eaten
away entirely that organ. When he came here
he was a more skeleton and could eat nothing;
not drop of any kind of liquid, could be
tanned on his stomach, and SO l tried feeding
him on dynamite. / fixed a solution contain
hours placed one drop of it on his tongue,
where it quickly absorbed and did not
reach the throat This small particle of nitro
glycerine is equal effect TO ounce of
brandy. But for this the poor fellow would
have died several days ago.
Seventeen years ago." continued the Doctor,
''the mans left arm was broken between the ell
bow and shoulder. Tho bones never knit to-
gether; yet, strange to say, he had perfect
of the arm could lift the heaviest weights with
it. and could wind it around his body in the
strangest contortions."
The reporter was shown the broken arm, and
there was nothing but shri, eled skin over it, 1t
certainly wonderful how the man could have
ever moved the arm, and the fact that he could
lift anything with it could hardly be credited.
when was the last time the man spoke2" asked
the reporter.
Yesterday morning" replied one.of the nurs-
es, The talked great deal, and said he felt
very well. The ro-glycerine seemed to revive
him just after taking each dose. Yesterday af-
ternoon he called for water. and / gave him
mouthful. He was $50 nauseated that he was
thrown into commissions We all expected that
he would die several days ago"
In speaking OF his past life Terrill stated that
he was born in Coweta county in 1854. and lived
there until 1876, when he married and moved to
DeKalb county. There he lived happily for
several years, and then his health began to fail
At first he thought he afflicted with acute
dyspepsia He grew rapidly worse, and
soon unable to work. His wife deserted him
and he came to Atlanta to seek medical aid.
Before the dreadful disease manifested itself he
wa. remarkably healthy, had strong constitu-
ton, and was in every way splendid specimen
of physical manhood.